Bridget Bonnie, founder of the PEC Institute and Head of Information and Public Affairs at the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, has condemned allegations of sexual abuse involving female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, calling for stronger accountability and better protection for victims.
Ms Bonnie, who also leads Bridget Bonnie and Friends, said adults entrusted with the care and guidance of young girls must protect them from exploitation rather than abuse their positions of authority.
Her comments follow an investigation by JoyNews investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, which reported allegations of sexual abuse involving as many as 19 female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, including allegations of rape.
In a statement responding to the issue, Ms Bonnie drew on her experience as a Junior High School pupil to illustrate the importance of responsible mentorship and appropriate boundaries between adults and children.
She recalled how a teacher she admired during her school days chose to guide and mentor her rather than take advantage of her youthful feelings.
According to her, the teacher encouraged her to prioritise her education, believe in her abilities and work towards a better future, an experience she said she continues to appreciate.
“That is what true mentorship looks like,” she said, urging men, particularly teachers and mentors, to recognise their responsibility to protect children who look up to them.
Ms Bonnie stressed that a child’s admiration for an adult must never be interpreted as consent or an invitation to exploit her.
She maintained that adults, especially those in positions of trust and authority, have a responsibility to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries in their relationships with children.
“A child cannot be held responsible for an adult’s decision to exploit her. The responsibility lies entirely with the adult,” she stated.
She also questioned whether individuals who allegedly abuse children but have not been exposed believe they can escape accountability simply because their victims have not spoken out.
Her comments highlight concerns about the vulnerability of young people in educational environments, where teachers and other authority figures are expected to provide guidance, protection and support.
The PEC Institute founder criticised what she described as a recurring pattern in which allegations of sexual abuse generate public outrage before attention gradually fades, allowing similar concerns to resurface.
She argued that public condemnation, particularly on social media, must be accompanied by concrete action to protect victims and ensure accountability.
“We need more than social media outrage. We need accountability. We need institutions that take complaints seriously, protect victims and ensure that those found guilty face the full rigours of the law,” she said.
Ms Bonnie called on relevant institutions to take allegations of sexual abuse seriously, ensure victims receive appropriate protection and pursue accountability through the established legal process.
She also emphasised the need to create an environment in which survivors can report abuse without fear of blame, shame or intimidation.
According to her, victims who have remained silent must be reassured that they are not responsible for the abuse they experienced.
Beyond the immediate allegations, Ms Bonnie called for a broader change in how men approach their relationships with young girls, particularly in settings where they serve as teachers, mentors or role models.
She urged men to use their influence to build trust, encourage young girls and help them feel safe, rather than cause harm that could leave lasting emotional scars.
She said responsible mentorship could have a lasting positive impact on a child’s confidence and future, just as exploitation could have enduring consequences for a survivor.
“Dear men, be the reason a young girl believes there are good men in this world. Not the reason she spends the rest of her life trying to heal from what one man did to her,” she said.
Her appeal adds to calls for greater protection of students, effective responses to sexual abuse allegations and accountability for individuals found culpable of exploiting children entrusted to their care.
